Become a Media Star at the 2013 Annual Meeting

Michael F. Schafer, MD

Although not every orthopaedic surgeon can match the media success of a Sanjay Gupta, MD, or a Dr. Oz, the 2013 Annual Meeting does present an opportunity for you, as an AAOS member, to be heard on radio—through Hometown Radio interviews arranged by the Academy’s public relations department.

It’s an opportunity for you to share your knowledge and insights on an orthopaedic topic directly from the meeting venue. You can discuss anything from bone conditions and joint replacement to safety and fitness tips.You specify the topic in advance, and a health reporter from Hometown Radio conducts the interview.

The 5-minute interview will generate about 3 minutes of air time. The recording will be edited on the day of the interview and transmitted to radio stations in your hometown and state. Each interview is guaranteed to play on at least two different radio stations.

Participating in the Hometown Radio interviews costs you nothing—but generates priceless benefits. The value of 3 minutes of radio air time is significant for you, for your practice, and for the AAOS. I encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity to share your knowledge about the value of orthopaedics with residents in your community.

Interview topics
This is an opportunity for you to discuss any orthopaedic topic that your patients need to know more about. Consider topics such as common conditions that you see in your regular practice and the research results you’re presenting at the Annual Meeting that might be of interest to your patients. For more topic ideas, visit the OrthoInfo website at orthoinfo.org

During your radio interview, be sure to mention either ANationInMotion.org or OrthoInfo.org as websites where listeners can go to find more bone and joint health information.

When, where, how

Interviews will be conducted through Friday. The first interview is at 9:00 a.m.; the last interview begins at 5:45 p.m. Interview slots are limited and will be honored on a first-come, first-serve basis. Many members have registered in advance, but feel free to stop by and see if a slot is open.

Hometown Radio interviews will take place in the AAOS Resource Center at McCormick Place, Academy Row Booth AR1—right next to the AAOS A Nation in Motion interactive display.

Learn more about marketing
As health care evolves and patients continue to use new technologies to research health and physician information, promoting your practice is more important than ever.

Join Leon S. Benson, MD, vice chair of the AAOS Communications Cabinet, for a lesson on how you can market your practice using AAOS public relations materials. The presentation will be held at the AAOS Resource Center Theater, beginning at 2:45 p.m., on Friday, March 22. No registration is required.

Dr. Benson will highlight the many displays, handouts, social media postings, video, and other free materials from the AAOS. He’ll discuss how you can link to the information on orthopaedic conditions and topics through Orthoinfo.org and ANationInMotion.org, how you can engage local media, and how to use social media, community events, and school visits to promote orthopaedic topics and, ultimately, your practice.

Michael F. Schafer, MD, chairs the AAOS Communications Cabinet.

2013 Annual Meeting News
Tuesday through Friday, February 19 – 23, 2013.
http://www.aaos.org/news/acadnews/2013/AAOS20_3_20.asp